Bible Reading: Genesis 28 | Matthew 28 | Psalm 28
Devotional for February 7, 2025
Reading: Genesis 28 | Matthew 28 | Psalm 28
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Genesis 28
Genesis 28 continues the narrative from chapter 27 with the immediate consequences of Jacob's deceitful behavior over his father, Isaac. Because Esau threatens to kill Jacob, Rebekah sends him to his uncle, Laban, forcing him to leave his land and become an exile in another country. The theme of exile and restoration will dominate the Pentateuch for many chapters and into the historical books of the Old Testament. That theme is one that God's people continue today. We are pilgrims and sojourners in this world as we await a better country, the New Heavens, and the New Earth.
As Jacob travels to his uncle's land, he sleeps and dreams. In this dream, he saw a ladder (commonly called "Jacob's ladder) on which angels ascend and descend. The imagery is that of Christ, who will unite heaven and earth again, restoring it to its rightful place as it was before the fall into sin. There, God renewed his covenant promise to Abraham and Isaac. The promise of God has not been forgotten, even in the face of difficulty and exile. We are comforted that God has not forgotten us in our exile. Come what may, the Lord will restore what has been ruined by sin and bring his people to their heavenly home.
Matthew 28
Matthew 28 details the events of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and his final days before ascending to his Father in heaven. Matthew's account is much shorter than Luke's, but it has some important observations. First, like the other accounts of the resurrection, the first day of the week is mentioned. That is precisely why we worship the risen Lord on the first day of the week. To worship on the seventh day, before the resurrection, would miss the whole meaning of the resurrection. We do not worship a dead Savior but a risen one who lives evermore, interceding for his people. Second, when Jesus meets up with his disciples, they worship him. Again, this further highlights our need to worship a risen Lord. Third, sinful men would rather believe in a conspiracy and invent all sorts of vain things instead of submitting to the risen Lord. That is precisely what happens in 28:11-15. It is what happens today. People would rather believe anything other than the plain teaching of the Bible and the Savior who returned gloriously from the dead to save sinners. Fourth, the Great Commission is given to the disciples to make disciples of all nations. That is our commission today. We do not merely evangelize the lost. We bring them the good news of the risen Lord and then seek to teach them to live obedient lives before him. Of course, we do not do this on our own because Jesus tells us, "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Psalm 28
Psalm 28 is a lament. It is a response to the efforts of evil people against an individual or the community at large. The circumstances are unclear, but the overall theme of opposition is evident throughout the Psalm. Whatever the circumstances, the lament can be applied to many dark providences facing the Christian. The Psalm has four stanzas.
28:1-2
The opening stanza sets the tone of the entire Psalm. It is evident that the writer is in turmoil over some dark providence. The issue may be personal. He may feel the effects of evil people and their attacks against him. A few observations:
First, the psalmist appeals to the God of heaven for help. That appeal is common throughout the psalms. It demonstrates a deep understanding of the miserable condition of sin in this world and the need for God's help.
Second, the psalmist pleads with God to hear him when he prays. Sometimes, in our lives, we wonder if God is listening to our concerns. We do not always feel like he hears us or cares about these dark providences. We do not base our heavenly Father's care on our feelings. He does hear the cries of his children, and he cares. He has said so in his word. It is okay to plead with God to listen when we cry out to him. Prayer is more than communicating information to our heavenly Father. It is more than words. Prayer is an emotional response. It is a pouring out of one's soul to the God of heaven. It sometimes leads to tears. It is sometimes offered in a way that struggles to say the words. Too much of prayer these days is shallow. The prayers of David were never that way.
28:3-5
This section gives us the substance of the prayer. First, he appeals to God for protection from evildoers. He doesn't want to continue experiencing the opposition of wicked people. Note carefully that these people are phonies. They are hypocrites. They smile to his face while they stab him in the back. Betrayal is difficult to endure. It often causes the deepest wounds. The Lord Jesus felt that pain and sorry. His friends betrayed him. Fewer pains in life are so egregious than betrayal by people you thought were your friends.
Second, the psalmist begs God for justice. He appeals to the all-knowing and just God for his enemies (that's what they prove themselves to be by their actions) to experience the pain of their own devices and fall into the pit of misery that they set for David. OF course, we should always pray for repentance from people like the ones described here. Failing that, we should pray for vindication and justice.
28:6-7
This section describes the praise of David as he laments his sorrows and pain. David is, in some sense, praying the Gospel to himself. He reminds himself that the Lord is good and for him. He reminds himself that his God hears him when he prays, and he responds – apparently speedily, in this case. We should learn from this example the importance of praise and adoration in prayer, especially during times of dark providences. We should rejoice because we are heard and offer our prayer with words of thankfulness to our God. That often helps us get our minds and hearts off the problem and on the solution: the comfort of the Lord.
28:8-9
In this closing section, David petitions the God of heaven to guard and keep his people faithfully. He appeals to the nature of God as the Good Shepherd of the sheep. He prays for the well-being of the covenant community, desiring to see them blessed by their God and protected from the efforts of the Evil One.
Applications:
Sometimes, we will think God is not hearing us when we pray. Do not allow your feelings to change what is true. God does listen to us. Our feelings do not change that fact.
When we pray, we must offer our hearts, emotions, and pleas to our Father. We must resist the urge to pray like we are talking to the air. We are communing with the God of heaven, who loves his children. He wants to hear them cry out to him.
We must never forget to praise our Father for his constant care when praying. We believe that he loves us. Therefore, what we experience in this life is ordered by a loving Father for our good.